Abstract : The purpose of this monograph is to present a concept for the employment of United States Special Operations Forces (US SOF) in support of United Nations (UN) operations. This concept breaks tradition with the past and is intended to provide US and UN leadership with a new appreciation for the use of US SOF in light of post-Cold War developments around the world. In addition, it will provide SOF planners and operators a new framework with which to approach future UN missions, as well as a broad range of tasks essential to the successful execution of UN operations. The fundamental assumption of this paper is that peace operations will continue for the foreseeable future and that the US, as a world leader, will participate in such missions by providing funding, technical and logistical support, or military force. The current national security strategy, A National Security Strategy of Engagement and Enlargement, clearly states that peace operations are a component of engagement and that it is the United States' specific intent to remain engaged throughout the world. The underlying rationale in this strategy is that in exercising strong leadership in the world 'we can make America safer and more prosperous -- by deterring aggression, by fostering peaceful resolution of dangerous conflicts.' The reality, however, of a declining military force poses resource limitations on the execution of this dynamic strategy. The imperative is thus that the US must explore economy of force options in accomplishing 'engagement' objectives.